What is the relationship between the speaker of the poem and Annabel Lee? What happens during the course of the poem to change that relationship? Use ideas that are directly stated and ideas that you have inferred from clues in the text to explain your answer.

Explanation:

A love relationship existed between the speaker of the poem and Annabel Lee. Stanza 2, Lines 1 & 2 of the poem reveals that they were lovers from childhood. They were so emotionally entwined that the speaker of the poem describes their love relationship as one which was deeper than love.

During the course of their relationship, Annabel fell ill and later died. Her death affected the speaker of the poem and greatly changed the course of the relationship.

The speaker of the poem was devastated by the news of Annabel Lee's demise. He felt so lonely that he started visiting her burial ground to lie by her tomb. That was the extent to which he loved and missed the love of his life, Annabel Lee.